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CF-104 serial 12868 c/n 683A-1168 went to the RCAF on December 11, 1963. The aircraft was assigned to 2 Wing / 1 Air Division and then 1 Wing until 1968 when it was put into storage. CF-104s were reserialed in June 1970 so 12868 became 104868. In 1971 the aircraft was reactivated and in 1978 104868 was with 441 and then 421 Squadrons. For 1981-82 the aircraft received a red and white paint scheme nicknamed "Flying Coke Bottle" or "Flying Coke Can". March 2, 1984 a hangar fire destroyed the aircraft.

Designed to meet a need for an aircraft that could successfully compete against the MiG-15 in Korea, the F-104 Starfighter was first flown on February 20, 1958. American pilots believed that the F-86 Sabre was too large and complex to outmaneuver the lighter MiG, and they wanted a smaller, simpler, high-performance aircraft to replace it. The resulting design was a light, aerodynamic airframe wrapped around a powerful J79 turbojet engine. The F-104C was used by the USAF from 1958 until 1967, but most of the 2,578 production Starfighters were built and flown by members of NATO, including the Italian Air Force, which didn't retire it until 2004.

Hobby Master's 1:72 scale F-104 Starfighter is a good looking model with many quality features. The exceptionally long fuselage is constructed in diecast metal, with plastic side-mounted engine intakes. The rear turbine blades and the exhaust with its "turkey feathers" are some of the high points of this model, along with a canopy that opens to reveal an ejection seat and pad printed front and side instrument panels. The M61 Vulcan Gatling gun port is beautifully recreated, and the complex main landing gear is accurately rendered, securely locking into place for ground display. Most releases include removable wingtip fuel tanks, with fuselage mounted missiles on some versions.